Month: November 2020

Remodeling your kitchen? Kitchen cabinets can be expensive, but here are several ways to find cheap – or even free – kitchen cabinets.

REPLACE YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS ON THE CHEAP

When remodeling a kitchen, as much as a third to half of your budget can be spent on buying new kitchen cabinets. While the cabinets make up a big part of any kitchen, it needn’t cost an arm and a leg to replace them. 

Below, we let you in on a well-kept secret: several ways to find cheap – and even free – kitchen cabinets!

CHEAP AND FREE KITCHEN CABINETS FROM LOCAL GROUPS AND/OR LISTS

The Internet makes it very easy to connect with other like-minded people in your area, and many homeowners doing remodels use the internet to advertise gently used items like furniture, clothing – and yes – kitchen cabinets. 

The downside to this kind of shopping, however, is that competition can be fierce. Everyone likes to get something for nothing, so if you’re lucky enough to find cheap or free kitchen cabinets online, you must move fast. Some good places to look for cabinets include Facebook local groups, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. Check to see if your area has a Buy Nothing Initiative as this limits the advertising area to just your local area, which can lessen competition. 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a great place to find kitchen cabinets on the cheap. With hundreds of stores nationwide, there’s probably a ReStore near you, and because kitchen cabinets take up a lot of precious space, you’re likely to find them at jaw-droppingly low prices. 

COMMERCIAL SALVAGE YARDS

Commercial salvage yards are where gently used pieces of houses go to find new forever homes. From bathtubs, countertops, and flooring to sinks, mirrors, and kitchen cabinets, you can find just about any type of home element you need there. Be aware, though, that although the prices are cheaper than buying new, you’ll pay a higher price at a commercial salvage yard than the other methods discussed here as selling used home elements is what they do to earn a living. 

IKEA

If you’re the DIY type, you may want to make a trip to your local Ikea store for kitchen cabinets. Ikea kitchen cabinets come flat-packed and ready to assemble, which is easy to do. They come in a variety of designs and color choices, and they are surprisingly good quality for the price. 

SHOWROOM DISPLAY CABINETS

If you’re patient and take the time to notice, you might find showroom display cabinets on sale at a discounted price. Display cabinets are designed to give you an idea of what a kitchen full of said cabinets might look and function like. They are often packed with extras like bread boxes, slide-out spice racks, etc. to entice buyers to spend more. If a certain model becomes discontinued, its display model usually goes on sale at an extremely discounted price. If you’re not against cabinets that others have touched and used for months, this is a great way to save a lot of money on your kitchen remodel.

Looking for a fresh, new look for your kitchen? Take a look at the suggestions for using gray. Once thought to be a drab, boring color, gray is the perfect choice for any modern kitchen.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USING GRAY IN YOUR KITCHEN

Choosing a color for your kitchen can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many color combinations that would work, but when you’re looking for something a little different, a little exciting, the typical white kitchen just won’t do. 

If you’re looking for a fresh vibe in your kitchen, consider incorporating gray. Gray cabinetry combined with white accents and other color combinations works well in nearly any kitchen design. Once thought to be a boring, drab color, gray is the new white, and here are a few ideas for using it in your kitchen. 

MIX AND MATCH GRAY AND WHITE CABINETS

Gray doesn’t have to be boring, safe, or drab, especially when you mix and match it with white to create a gentle contrast. Try painting all your cabinets gray and then installing a white countertop. Or, another option is to paint the lower cabinets gray and the upper wall cabinets white. Either look is fresh, contrasting, and exciting. 

PAIR GRAY WITH WARM COLORS

The kitchen is supposed to give off a warm and inviting vibe, but gray can be somewhat cold, so try pairing it with warm textures and colors like wood and wood accents, red, yellow, and gold. 

A good rule of thumb to remember is:

1. Darker shades of gray work well in modern kitchen designs

2. Gray and white combinations are well-suited for minimalist kitchen design

Gray can be an extremely fun and exciting color in the kitchen, as is evident by its popularity in home décor these days. Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen or building a new home, consider using gray as one of the colors as it is anything but drab and boring.

Putting your house up for sale? Here are a few tips to help you get the most money out of your home.

MAXIMIZE YOUR HOME’S SELLING POTENTIAL

So, you’ve decided it’s time to sell your house. What an exciting, and often overwhelming, time. Selling a home takes time and effort, from running a successful open house to bringing in serious offers, you’ll need to stay on top of things. Below, I’ve put together a few tips to help you with the selling process, so you get the best deal possible when selling your first home. 

1. DON’T FORGO THE REAL ESTATE AGENT – ME

Although it’s tempting to not hire a real estate agent when selling your home, resist the temptation. A local agent knows your neighborhood inside and out. I know the other homes for sale in the area and what yours is up against. Furthermore, I will handle all the hard work, from running the open houses to finding potential buyers, which can take a lot of stress off the table for you. 

2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK

The Internet is an important tool when selling your home. There is a lot of information at your fingertips including the going prices for other homes in the neighborhood, average time on the market and current inventory in your price range.

3. DON’T LET EMOTIONS GET IN THE WAY

Without a doubt, selling a home is an emotional event, but emotions have no place in the home selling process. That’s why it’s best to leave it up to the professionals (me and my team) to handle as much of the sale of your home as possible. After all, I have no sentimental ties to the property, and getting the highest dollar in the sale is my job. It’s just another day at the office for a real estate agent, so let me do what I love to do…. Take care of YOU!

4. SPRUCE UP THE PLACE

First impressions are everything, so make sure the outside of your home looks tidy and welcoming. Keep the grass mowed, pressure wash the outside of your home, and place plants and flowers outside the front entrance to make it appear as if buyers are entering a warm and welcoming home. 

On the inside of your home, give the walls a fresh coat of paint and get rid of any clutter to create a blank slate that interested buyers can use to picture themselves and their belongings in your home. 

5. STAGING – IT’S A GOOD THING!

Creating a blank canvas inside your home doesn’t mean it should be empty, however. If you’ve already moved your things to a new location, consider adding a few pieces back in for staging. Staging a home can help your home sell up to 80 percent faster and for as much as 20 percent more money. 

If you’re selling a home for the first time, take the tips above into consideration. They will help you get the most out of the home selling process. And, of course, call me!